Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week – July 13, 2014

Galactic Flyby, Distant Stars & More

Last week researchers confirmed NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has indeed been cruising through interstellar space, a NASA probe spotted the Pan-STARRS comet as it flew 143 million miles away from Earth, Astronomers discovered the farthest-flung stars yet known in the Milky Way. See the best stories from last week here. <br><br>
FIRST STOP:
Did Huge Impact Shape Planet Mercury?

Did Huge Impact Shape Planet Mercury?

The mysterious makeup of the solar system's innermost planet may be due to a massive "hit and run" collision billions of years ago, a new study reports. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26447-mercury-composition-giant-impact.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Europe Targets Black Holes with Next Big Space Mission

Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, is launching a social media campaign asking people around the world to share their memories of his historic landing that took place 45 years ago this month. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26461-apollo-11-anniversary-buzz-aldrin-campaign.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Confirmed: Voyager 1 in Interstellar Space

Comet Makes Spectacular Galactic Flyby (Video)

A NASA probe recently spotted the Pan-STARRS comet as it flew 143 million miles away from Earth, passing in front of another galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26459-comet-pan-starrs-galaxy-flyby-video.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Saturn's Rings, Hexagon on Display in Amazing Photo

How Wheel Damage Affects Mars Rover Curiosity's Mission

It doesn’t appear that NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover will get AAA roadside assistance anytime soon. But it needs it. The one-ton, six-wheeled Mars Science Laboratory’s robot has been driving across the red planet since its landing in August 2012. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26472-mars-rover-curiosity-wheel-damage.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Name an Alien Planet: Voters Wanted to Christen Strange New Worlds

Name an Alien Planet: Voters Wanted to Christen Strange New Worlds

Officials with the International Astronomical Union are asking people on Earth to name exoplanets as part of a competition starting in 2015. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26478-alien-planet-names-iau-vote.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Violent Star Explosion Reveals Origins of Space Dust

Violent Star Explosion Reveals Origins of Space Dust

Scientists have found that cosmic grains of dust can form in supernova explosions and survive the shockwaves created by the powerful explosions afterward. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26482-cosmic-dust-survives-star-explosions.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Vintage NASA Spacecraft May Be Out of Gas, Private Team Says

Vintage NASA Spacecraft May Be Out of Gas, Private Team Says

Attempts to move a vintage NASA spacecraft into a new orbit 36 years after the probe's launch are in flux, with controllers fearing the spacecraft may have run out of fuel while performing maneuvers on Tuesday (July 9). <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26485-vintage-nasa-spacecraft-isee3-fuel.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Found! Most Distant Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy

Found! Most Distant Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy

Scientists have found that cosmic grains of dust can form in supernova explosions and survive the shockwaves created by the powerful explosions afterward. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26483-milky-way-most-distant-stars.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Russia's Next-Generation Angara Rocket Aces 1st Test Launch

Surfin' on Sunlight! Privately Funded Solar Sail to Launch by 2016

Nine years after a rocket failure that destroyed its solar-sailing spacecraft, the Planetary Society is ready for another try. <br><br>
[<a href=http://www.space.com/26493-lightsail-solar-sail-launch-2016.html>Full Story</a>] <br><br><p>NEXT:
Cassini Probe Celebrates 10 Years at Saturn Today